30 Days of news + Five things we learned this month

A month is a lifetime in the automotive world. Here's a few things the Wheels magazine team found most interesting in the 30 days before print deadline!

Pricey paperweight

You might be able to buy a Porsche Carrera GT but you sure as hell can’t drive it.

Recall campaign number 23V241000 states that “the spherical joints that connect the wishbone suspension components on the front and rear axles can fail due to damage from mechanical stress and corrosion.”

There is no ETA for parts replacement. Owners are advised to not drive the Carrera GT as insurers will not cover the vehicle under Porsche's stop-use conditions.

Land of the NIMBY...

Is nothing sacred? The Highway 68 Coalition has claimed that the Laguna Seca race circuit is “a public nuisance” and is suing the facility, aiming to end racing.

The track, which first opened in 1957, already operates to strict noise limits, but the plaintiffs are using a technicality to try to curtail racing. Wording in the track’s mandate of operations allows it to continue its “past history” but the complaint alleges that there was a sharp increase in activity between 2021 and 2023, effectively using the COVID pandemic as a stick to beat the operators with.

A 2015 study by California State University and Monterey Bay showed that the raceway generated $62.1 million (2015 USD) to the Monterey County economy, and USD$5.2 million in state and local taxes.

Lexus LBX Morizo RR

Lexus has revealed a high-power concept version of its new LBX light SUV at Tokyo Auto Salon 2024.

The concept version of the brand’s LBX light SUV is fitted with GR-Four all-wheel drive and the 224kW ‘G16E-GTS’ turbo three-cylinder heart of the facelifted GR Yaris. That’s more than twice the power of the 100kW hybrid LBX, so if the Morizo RR ever does come to production fruition, it’ll need a serious chassis and body makeover. When Akio Toyoda has a hand in things, you wouldn’t bet the house against it though.

Vale Denis Bartell, Desert Explorer

Legendary desert adventurer Denis Bartell passed away peacefully on January 2nd after a short illness.

He was first to drive the Simpson Desert from east to west, a crossing that was a prelude to more than 60 crossings by vehicle, camel and on foot. He named its biggest dune ‘Big Red’ and was also the first to drive the rugged Madigan Line in 1979.

His 3200km world record breaking solar-powered drive from Darwin to Adelaide was the precursor to the modern Solar Challenge.

One of Australia’s great modern explorers and recipient of the OAM, as well as the 1995 Australian Geographic Society Adventurer of the Year gold medallion, Bartell was 90 when he passed away.

Ford CEO Jim Farley talks V8s and EVs at the launch event for Ford Performance’s racing season North Carolina

“If we’re the only one on the planet making a V8 affordable sports car for everyone in the world, so be it.”

Farley added that the Mach-E, which bears the Mustang name, is a key component in allowing Ford to invest in future V8s.

“Mach-E lets us sell ICE vehicles for a long time to come,” he added. replacement. Owners are advised not to drive the CGT as insurers will not cover the vehicle under Porsche’s stop-use conditions.

Five things we learned this month

Carlos Sainz has, at 61, delivered Audi its very first victory in the Dakar Rally.

It was Sainz’s fourth win across four different marques. In case you were wondering, Volkswagen, Peugeot and Mini were the others.

Kia’s still looking to enter the Australian market with a ute.

At the recent Sportage launch, planning boss Roland Rivero stated “Work on the ute is continuing... We have said in the past, some time in the middle part of 2025.... It’s tracking along nicely.”

If you want to visit the National Holden Motor Museum in Echuca, you’ll need to get your skates on.

The doors are closing for good on April 14.

Were you to try to charge one with a regular 2.5-watt USB charging cable, a Hummer EV’s 246kWh battery pack would take roughly 12.5 years to charge.

Never let it be said that we don’t bring you the news that matters...

Tesla Model Y was Europe’s best-selling car in 2023.

This is the first time an EV has ever hit number one in annual sales.